Libertyville dominates
Area wrestlers took step one on the road to Champaign and the 2008 individual state meet in two weeks with regional competition Saturday.
Host Libertyville was the big winner in its own nine-team regional.
The Wildcats led Warren 168.5-161.5 headed into the first- and third-place matches before pulling away from the Blue Devils by a 205.5-170.5 margin to capture the championship.
The Wildcats advanced to their own team sectional Feb. 19 to face Stevenson, the Glenbrook South regional champion, in a semifinal match.
Libertyville had a field day, advancing 11 individuals to this week's Barrington individual sectional.
The Wildcats featured five champions, three runners-up and three third-place finishers.
Warren advanced seven individuals to Barrington, as did third-place Mundelein (164 points). Carmel (123) was a distant fourth, but the Corsairs had two champions.
Libertyville 135-pounder Trey Ayala (35-5) defeated fellow 2007 state qualifier Ryan Lund of Grayslake Central 9-0 for one of the Wildcats' titles.
At 103 pounds, Matt Bystol (33-4) beat Round Lake's Jose Jimenez 7-3 for another Libertyville crown.
Other Wildcats champions were Kyle Manolovic (125), Joey Callen (160) and Tom Nield (285).
"We just couldn't shake (Warren) until the last rounds, but we had some huge wins in the finals," said Libertyville coach Dale Eggert. "Trey (Ayala) beat a returning state qualifier, and (Jake) Hogan just made my day when he came back and pinned that guy."
In a back-and-forth match, Hogan pinned Carmel sophomore Steve Lester in 5:16 to take third at 215.
The Wildcats had a second-place showing from 112-pounder Louis Mazzetta, who dropped an 8-1 decision to Mundelein's Eduardo Dominguez in one of many North Suburban Conference rematches from last weekend.
Libertyville 130-pounder Everett Indart placed second to Dillon Pousson of Round Lake. Libertyville's Logan Miller fell to Carmel's Ryan Williams in the 171-pound finals.
Williams (23-5) and teammate Ryan Unrein (152) are aiming for return trips to state after Unrein won a title by injury default over Warren's Jake Dietmeyer.
"He (Miller) is a good kid on his feet and he knew how to keep my hands tied up," Williams said. "I know I've got to go into sectionals as hard as I can and I have to be able to wrestle mistake-free."
Warren 119-pounder Connor Drew (33-2) posted a 12-3 major decision over Mundelein's Tanis Arcos for the crown.
At 215 pounds, Vince Nicoline of Round Lake pinned Warren's Houston Neals in 33 seconds for the title.
"We're really happy with the way we wrestled," said Warren coach Mark Tiffany. "Drew is on a mission, he's definitely driven, and I like his chances to get to state."
Mundelein 189-pounder Adam Avalos (36-4) pinned Warren's Tyreese Woodard in 5:37 for first place.
Mundelein junior Eduardo Dominguez (112) and 140-pound teammate Alex Mena also won their divisions.
"We didn't do quite as well as we thought we would do, but Warren is back at full strength so we knew they would be tough," said Mundelein coach Tom Buenik. "Dominguez looked much better today (against Mazzetta) and I think that will help his confidence headed into next week."
Carmel advanced five wrestlers to Barrington; Round Lake had four, Grayslake Central two; and Grayslake North one -- 135-pound third-place finisher Danny Mendoza.
Warren's Justin Santiago won at 145 with an 11-5 decision over Mundelein's Devin Ringwald, while Warren's James Karner (140) and teammate Bryce Howard (160) placed second by injury default.
Nield pinned Mundelein's Freddy Martinez in 14 seconds for the 285-pound crown.
Other third-place winners were Carmel's Matt Oliva (103) and J.P. Hough (112); Grayslake Central's Justus Depke (125); Carmel's Will Robinson (130); Libertyville's Nick McDowell (145); Libertyville's Josh Ronne (who posted a 5-3 overtime victory at 152); Round Lake's Corey Weber (160); and Mundelein's Steve Avalos (171).
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Warren's Justin Santiago, top, prevails over Grayslake North's Nick Brillion in a 145-pound regional bout Saturday. Santiago went on to win the regional title.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Round Lake's Vince Nicoline, top, has control of his match against Grayslake Central's Cassidy Melton. Nicoline later won a regional title for the Panthers.